Folding table-bed



(No Model P'- T. SOUTH.

FOLDING TABLE BED.

Patented July 6, 1897.

PIIILIP T. SOUTH, OF BETHFL, OHIO.

FOLDING TABLE-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,794, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed anuary 21, 1897. Serial No. 620,095. N mod l-l T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP T. SOUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethel, in the county of Olermont and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined Folding Bed and Table, of which the follow ing is a specification.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a single structure adapted to be converted at will into a bed, a center-table, an office-table, or a light amateur billiard-table; also, in any of these forms to have a hinged seat or stool on each side of it, the same being folded upout of the way when notneeded.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a square center-table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the bed formed by opening out the hinged part of the said table and introducing the filling-pieces and their supports between the parts thereof, as hereinafter set forth. Fig. 3 represents a detail side elevation of the hinged pair of filling-pieces. Fig. 4 represents a detail View of certain locking pieces hereinafter described. Fig. 5 represents a perspective View of an oflice-table formed by raising and bracing a hinged end leaf of a center-table shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of an amateur billiard-table formed by adding to said office-table a corresponding detachable leaf at the other end of the table and applying a raised sectional rail thereto, one section of which, with its dowel pins, is shown slightly separated from the said table.

The said combined article of furniture is composed of two sections B and B, connected together by hinges 42, allowing the former section to be turned over on the other, which remains stationary. A rectangular table is thereby formed, as shown in Fig. '1. The two sections make an oblique line of junction. The said table serves also as a hollow casing for the bedclothes or other articles; The outer end of section B- is provided with a hinged leaf D, adapted to be turned up into horizontal position and to form an extension of the table-top A for greater convenience in d so as to turn under the said leaf at will on each side of the said table, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each side of the table consists of two flat side pieces O and O, the former being a part of movable section B and the latter of fixed section B. Each fixed side piece 0 is provided with a door 0 which opens outwardly at will into a horizontal position. This door is provided with a leg X, which is provided with hinges X, arranged so that it may be turned down to the floor as a support to hold the door in horizontal position for a seat. The two doors,when opened in this way,ventilate the bedclothes within the casing, besides providing the table with seats or stools at each side. The said doors may also be perforated, as shown in dotted lines, forming any suitable design and admitting air to the interior of the casing even when the doors are closed. When not in use, the leg X and door 0 fold out of the way between two brackets a, which are attached to the casing at the sides of the saiddoor.

To make a light amateur billiard-table, I simply add to the end of the table opposite to leaf D a corresponding detachable leaf and fasten a rim m in sections detachably around the edge. This may be done by dowel-pins, as indicated in Fig. 6. Brackets (21', corresponding to those which support section D, are also employed.

When the section B is turned back on its hinges, so as to bring the table-top A into a vertical position, the latter becomes the headboard of the bedstead, as shown in Fig. 2. A large V-shaped gap is formed between the inner ends of the side pieces C and O. The

upper part of this is occupied on each side I of the bedstead by a pair of spreader-bars F,

which are hinged together at f, while their outer ends are fastened to said side pieces by pivots or other devices j j A wedge bearing down on the filling-pieces until they take the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 the mattress is put under tension. A complete side rail is also thus formed on each side of the bedstead from end to end. The said filling-pieces being in the same longitudinal line lock the two sections in this position, so that the bedstead cannot accidentally fold together. The ends of the wire mattress I are attached to rails which rest in shoes V, Fig. 4, attached to the said pieces 0 O of the bedstead at the foot and head.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding bed consisting of a stationary section and a section hinged thereto in combination with a mattress attached to the said sections and spreader-bars arranged in hinged pairs and adapted to be employed between the said sections for completing the side rails and tightening the said mattress substantially as set forth.

2. A folding bed consisting of a stationary section a section hinged thereto and opening out so as to leave a gap between said sections, a mattress attached to the said sections, a pair of spreader-bars adapted to fill the gap on one side of the bedstead, so as to complete the side rail and tighten the said mattress and a spring-support for the said spreader-bars substantially as set forth.

3. A combined folding bed and table consisting of a fixed section, a section hinged thereto in such manner that there will be a gap between them when opened out and provided with an end which becomes the headboard when the said hinged section is opened out and the table-top when it is folded together, a mattress attached to the said sections and means of tightening the said mattress when the bed is opened consisting of a pair of spreader-bars hinged together end to end and adapted to fill the said gap substan tially as set forth.

4. A pair of spreader-bars hinged together at one end in combination with a bedstead consisting of two sections hinged together provided with rails which form a gap when opened out and adapted to be locked open by placing the said bars in the gap of the rails and forcing them into alinemcnt substantially as set forth.

PHILIP T. SOUTH.

Attest:

ORLEY SOUTH, RAY S. SOUTH. 

